Related Articles

Imagine capturing the essence of the iconic Colorado Rockies in one small, 265,000-acre park, and you've imagined what you'll find in Rocky Mountain National Park. While you could do a quick auto tour or short day trip to the park, truly exploring the multitude of 12,000-foot mountain peaks, 355 miles of trails, myriad waterfalls and 150 lakes will take days, weeks or months. With two base-camp towns of Estes Park and Grand Lake, and five campgrounds, you'll find nearly 200 lodging facilities, ranging from elaborate resorts to motels, as well as more than 550 campsites.

Season

Rocky Mountain National Park is open year-round, but it's subject to drastic changes in season. Summer is the high season in the national park and the time during which the most amenities--including a free shuttle service--are open. According to the National Park Service, campsites fill up by early afternoon during July and August. Reservations are recommended, and they're taken up to six months in advance. Lodging facilities can also fill up quickly, so make reservations. While the winter is the least crowded time of year, some roads and campgrounds are closed during this time, limiting where you can stay and travel in the park. If you're looking to beat the crowds while still having a choice of lodging options, consider traveling to the park in the spring or early fall. The spring season doesn't typically start until late in April, and some roads and campgrounds offer a short season from May to September.

Historical Lodges

Although it's located five miles outside of Rocky Mountain National Park, the Stanley Hotel was actually featured in PBS' series "Great Lodges of the National Parks." The stately hotel offers views of the park and is an historic site listed on the National Register of Historic Places. An interesting fact about the hotel is it served as an inspiration for Stephen King's famous novel "The Shining" when he stayed there prior to writing the book. It offers 138 guestrooms, a Colorado-inspired restaurant, a cafe and a spa. On the western border of the park, the Rapids Lodge is a location steeped in wild west history. Opened in 1915, the lodge was once home to a casino, brothel and honky tonk bar that hosted such greats as Jim Croce, Kris Kristofferson and Janis Joplin. Today, you'll find cabins, suites, condos, cottages and lodge rooms, as well as a restaurant.

Camping

There are no lodges inside of Rocky Mountain National Park, but the five campgrounds of Moraine Park, Longs Peak, Glacier Basin, Timber Creek and Aspenglen are spread out around the park. Longs Peak, Timber Creek and Moraine Park are open year-round, while Aspenglen and Glacier Basin are open seasonally from May to September. Aspenglen, Glacier Basin and Moraine Park accept reservations. Glacier Basin and Moraine Park offer group sites. There are no electrical, sewer or water hook-ups at any of the campsites.

Estes Park Lodging

Estes Park is the more convenient of the two gateway towns for most travelers. It is located about 70 miles from Denver, and it hosts both a summer visitor shuttle that stops at many of the lodging properties around town and an express hiker shuttle that takes hikers into Rocky Mountain National Park. The town offers more than 150 lodging establishments and everything from guest ranches to campgrounds. In addition to the Stanley Hotel detailed above, other options include the Swiss-inspired Apenzell Inn and the Lane Guest Ranch.

Grand Lake

Grand Lake is Rocky Mountain National Park's western gateway town. A small village located on the lake of the same name, Grand Lake provides a scenic retreat filled with outdoor activities. The historic village offers a variety of accommodations, including resorts, cabins, condos, and bed and breakfasts, most of which afford views of the lake, mountain or river. It's just a mile from Grand Lake to Rocky Mountain National Park. Lodging options include the Mountain Lakes Lodge, Gateway Inn and Soda Springs Ranch.

Resources

About the Author

Joe Fletcher has been a writer since 2002, starting his career in politics and legislation. He has written travel and outdoor recreation articles for a variety of print and online publications, including "Rocky Mountain Magazine" and "Bomb Snow." He received a Bachelor of Arts in political science from Rutgers College.